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Friday, November 25, 2011

Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop


Welcome to the November PTI Blog Hop!

Our challenge this month was to make a card based on this inspiration photo.


Here is the card I made based on that gorgeous photo.


I kept the focus very simple. 


I loved the home spun feel from the photo and so I used the "Stitches & Swirls" set to add that homey feel into my card.  Then after I stamped the leaf images, I stamped over them with one of the "Background Basics: Circles" stamps in VersaMark.  LOVE how this looks!  Then, I used one of the small dots from the circle set to add berries throughout the green piece.


The holly was cut out using a Lil' Inker Designs die...love that die!  The letters were cut out from the PTI Block Alphabet dies and I can tell that that will be a die I use over and over and over again.  It is hard to see but I used the Vineyard Impression Plate on the white background and the Linen Impression Plate on the green piece after I had finished stamping all of the elements.

Thank you for stopping by today! If you braved the crowds and went out shopping today, I hope you had a very successful trip!  If you would like to see all of the other projects on this blog hop, be sure to visit Nichole's blog!


Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Stitches & Swirls, BB: Circles 
Paper: DCWV Glitter Pack, PTI New Leaf, White
Ink: Pure Poppy, Snow White, VersaMark
Dies: PTI Block Alphabet, Pinking Shears Border, Lil' Inker Designs Holly Jolly, PTI Vineyard & Linen Impression Plate
Other: Pop Dots, Hobby Lobby Sequin Trim

Monday, November 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Scavenger Hunt

Hello!! Today I have a fun idea featuring twine from The Twinery and several Lil' Inker Designs products perfect for any special day!

Last year for my son's birthday I made him go on a scavenger hunt for his birthday present.  I had clues at several locations in the house and at the end of hunt, he ended up at his present.  It was so much fun to create and to watch him do!  I took this same idea and applied it to a tag book that the recipient could keep as a keepsake.

Warning:  Lots of pictures ahead! :)


This is what the front looks like.  I printed the title on vellum.


I used the Mini Pinwheel die from Lil' Inker Designs to make the pinwheel out of the papers I used on the rest of my tag book.  I used The Twinery's Lilac twine to make the center and then tied the Peapod twine around the tag.


This is the first page of the booklet.  Basically the idea of how this book works is that the tags would be hidden and your instructions would direct the recipient to the next tag until they reach their final destination, i.e. their gift!


Here is a sample of the clue.  Under each of the clues, I added a flag die cut cut using the Lil' Inker Designs Sentiment Flags die


I used a fun knot tying technique to make the "handles" on the tag.  I have a tutorial with pictures toward the end of this post.


And here is how I used the twine to adhere the pocket for the tag to fit in.  I punched tiny holes in the pocket and then used a large-eyed needle to thread the twine through.



Page two.



Page 3.  Notice how I used the Lemondrop twine to adhere the pocket to the tag.


Page 4


Page 5


To accent this tag, I made a friendship bracelet and adhered it to the tag.  It has a fun wavy design to it.


The last page I kept blank so that a message could be written on it.  The design is very similar to the cover page of the tag book.

Now, for a quick picture tutorial on how I tied the twine on the "handle" of my tags, which is really just a simple knotting technique.


First, cut two strands of twine, fold them in half and push the loop through the front to the back of the tag.


Pull the ends from the front of the tag through the loop that you've pulled through the back.


It should look like this when you are finished. 


Then knot the two strands of twine together and pull down to the base of the tag.


It looks like this.


Continue knotting the twine until you get the length you desire. 


Cut the ends of the twine off to the length you prefer.



The Twinery also has some great news!  Did you know that you can get, for a limited time only,  two of the holiday packs of twine in a sampler's pack!  If you wanted to sample some of this gorgeous twine, this is the perfect way to get great holiday colors at a great price ($5!!!)!  Here's one of the sampler packs that is available!



Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoyed this idea!


Supplies
Twine:  The Twinery
Dies: Pinwheel & Sentiment Flags Dies by Lil' Inker Designs, Tag Sale #3 Die by Papertrey Ink
Paper:  Country Drive by Echo Park Paper, Vellum, 2008 Bitty Box Basics Papertrey Ink
Cardstock:  Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Smokey Shadow, Harvest Gold, Lemon Tart, Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst, Orange Zest & Spring Rain by Papertrey Ink
Other:  Sizzix Embossing Folder, Cane Print & Vineyard Impression Plate PTI, Dot Spot Stamp Set PTI

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Twinery & Market Street Stamps Blog Hop


Welcome to The Twinery & Market Street Stamps blog hop!  If you are following along in the hop you should have come here from Julie Day's Blog!

This is a 2-day hop and there are prizes up for grabs!

One Twinery Ultimate Sampler Pack (retail value $25)

One Market Street Stamps $25 Shopping Spree

To be eligible to win, you must visit each blog each day and leave a comment on each post no later than Friday, November 25th.  Prize winners will be drawn at random and will be announced Saturday, November 26th on both TheTwinery and Market Street Stamps Blogs.

For my project, I got to work with the fun & fabulous Market Street Stamps Home Grown set!


This set has this wonderful lawn mower in it that is perfect for masculine cards! I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to find images that I like for masculine cards!  Do you see that sun image behind the lawnmower?  That is from a Market Street Stamp background called Here Comes the Sun.  Another favorite of mine!



I had such a great time creating this grass for the lawn mower to mow with the Honeydew twine from The Twinery.  I placed my ATG adhesive on a strip of cardstock and then looped the twine on the cardstock.  I cut off the bottom loops to make the bottom of the grass.  For the top of the grass, I cut off the part that the mower "mowed" and then left the rest of the grass tall.  Most of the grass I left in loops, but some of it I cut the loops and left it as tall strands of grass which mixed up the look a little.


I hope you enjoyed my card!! Thank  you for visiting today! Your next stop on the blog hop is my Twinery team member Tifany DeGough who just also happens to be a design team member with Market Street Stamps too! 

Be sure to leave me a comment so that you will be eligible to win one of the two fabulous prizes!

Supplies
Other: Copics, pop dots, silver pearls, Memento Ink, VersaMark Ink

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Lil' Inker Designs Holiday Release Wrap-Up


Welcome back!! I certainly hope that you have enjoyed this Lil' Inker Designs release week!! Have you been inspired by all the fun new products and samples you've seen?  Today is a wrap up post and the design team are all sharing projects made with these new products.  If you are following along in the hop, you should have come from  Julie Ranae's blog!

Now I get to share with you my favorite card I made with these products!


This was the first thing I made when I got these new dies in the mail!  I love, love that the letters are separate so that the dies cut each letter individually!



And that darling little bell!!  It is such a cute little die!  I love that it is two pieces for added dimension and that all those tiny, delicate pieces are cut out as well!  So cute!

How about one more?


I used a fun color combination with this card...one that I happen to love!!

I used a glue pen to add the glitter to the snow drifts.  The star on the decorated tree was cut with the fringe flower die out of origami paper!  Yep! Origami paper!! The thing I like about using that die with that paper is that the paper is so much thinner than cardstock and so it is super easy to roll and not as stiff.  You'll have to give that a try!  I found my origami paper at Hobby Lobby and got a pack of 100 assorted colors for $4.99 (plus 40% off with a coupon). 

The surprise to this card is when you open it.


The recipient will find a 3D tree!


To create this, I cut 3 of the Christmas tree dies and then glued them together.  Isn't the dashed lines around the tree such a great detail! I love how these dies were designed!

Thank you SO MUCH for joining the Lil' Inker Design Team for this Holiday Release Blog Hop!!  Be sure to continue on by visiting Emily Leiphart's blog next! She is always full of creative and inspiring ideas!  And, of course, these products can all be found at the Lil' Inker Designs store!  Be sure to check them out!

As for myself, I am off to the Women of Faith conference in Oklahoma City!  The down side...I have to get up at 4:15 AM.  I don't do the 4's very well.  As a matter of fact, I don't do the 5:00's or 6:00's too well either.  I hope I can stay awake for the conference!  I am looking forward to a great time with a great group of women though and am most excited about the worship time!  I hope you enjoy your weekend too!  Thanks for visiting!


Supplies
Joy Card
Cardstock:  Happy Go Lucky Lime Twist by My Mind's Eye, PTI Autumn Rose, Rustic White, Aqua Mist & Smokey Shadow
Felt: PTI Autumn Rose
Other:  Fiskars Apron Lace border punch, PTI Mat Stack 4 Die

Happy Holidays Tree Card
Lil' Inker Designs (LID) Products:  Holly Jolly Die & Stamp Set & Fringe Flower Die
Cardstock:  Happily Lost by Lily Bee Design, Country Drive by Echo Park, Aqua Mist PTI
Ink:  true Black PTI, VersaMark
Other:  Trim, Origami Paper, Pop Dots, Glitter, Glue Pen

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Lil' Inker Designs Holiday Release: Jingle Joy


Hello!! I hope you have been enjoying the Lil' Inker Designs release week blog hops!  If you are following along with this blog hop you should have arrived from my friend Emily Leiphart's blog.   And if you would like to start at the beginning of the hop, you can visit the Lil' Inker Designs blog.

Today I have another fantastic product introduction to share with you today if you didn't already see it on my team members blogs yesterday. 

Introducing Jingle Joy!



What a fun set!! There are so many different combinations with this set that you're going to love!  I know that many of you probably think of Christmas when you see this set, but I wanted to show a non-Christmas project using this set today and so I created a gift set, which could be a Christmas present but would also make a great birthday present as well.


I found this pink crayon tote at Hobby Lobby and paid only a few dollars for it.  I couldn't leave it plain though, you know how it goes, so I had to decorate it up a little!


I die cut the letters "j" & "y" out of some cute snowflake fabric and then used the Lil' Inker Designs Fringe Flower die to make the pink flower for the "o" in "joy".  The trim was sewn on by hand.


I love how versatile these "Jingle Joy" products are!  You can use your stamps & ink with them or you can use pattern paper or fabric or felt with them.  Did you notice the leaves on my flower?  I die cut them with gray felt, to match the color scheme in the fabric, with the "Holly Jolly" dies that are also being released this week at Lil' Inker Designs.


For the card I die cut the letters "j" and "y" onto ivory paper and then stamped them with one of the 3 designs included in the new "Jingle Joy" stamp set.  I love the different patterns included with this set!  I used a button with Twinery Twine tied through the middle for the "o" in joy, just one more versatile way to use this set!  I used the "l" from the set to stamp the border.  But did you know that it could also be used to make a candy cane as well?  FUN!!

Now it is time to continue on in the blog hop by visiting the fabulous and talented Alicia Thelin's blog!  I can't wait to see what she has in store for us all today!

Be sure to stop by my blog tomorrow too!! I have several more projects to share with you to wrap up this fun Holiday Release by Lil' Inker Designs!

Have a great day!!

Supplies
Lil' Inker Designs:  Jingle Joy Die & Stamp Set, Fringe Flower Die, Holly Jolly Die

Twine:  The Twinery
Cardstock:  PTI Rustic Cream, Smokey Shadow, Raspberry Fizz
Ink:  Charcoal Palette, Raspberry Fizz PTI
Other:  Buttons, Tin Types Impression Plate PTI, Sequin Trim Hobby Lobby, Tote Bag Hobby Lobby, Felt by Felt on the Fly Etsy & PTI, Fiskars Border Punch, Scor-pal, Fabric Hobby Lobby

The Twinery + Stamps of Life Holiday Blog Hop

Welcome to The Twinery & Stamps of Life Blog Hop!  This blog hop will feature all kinds of projects with a Christmas theme!  If you are following the hop, you should have arrived from Laura Williams blog!

 
As always, there are prizes to be won!  Be sure to comment on all of the blog posts!  There will be TWO prize winners chosen randomly among the blogs. 

One winner will win 2 stamp sets  (winners choice) valued at $12.95 with a total retail value of $26.90 from The {Stamps} of Life.
&
One winner will win the Ultimate Color Sampler Pack ($25 value!) from The Twinery!!!

The stamp set that I am working with from Stamps of Life is the "Joy2Christmas" set.



Here are my cards:



I made one of the Christmas trees a Santa tree by stamping the tree twice and paper piecing the bottom section of the tree.  I added a fun twine hat topper to the top.  I also tied french knots to add ornaments to the green trees.

For my second card I went with a softer color scheme.


I used the tag image from the stamp set to create 3 focal points and then stamped the solid tree image inside.  I then used three beautiful twine colors, Honeydew, Blossom & Buttercream to create the decorations on the tree.  I love these soft colors of Twinery Twine!

For my last card, I created a super clean & simple card.


I cut out the light bulbs from the stamp set and added glitter to one side and then popped them up with pop dots.  The twine is a fabulous way to "hang" items on the card. I attached the twine to the top of the card with just a touch of clear glue.  It holds very nicely!


Thank you so much for joining me on this hop!  There are lots of great blogs to visit!  Your next stop on this hop is to Kim Howard's blog

Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win the prize packs!  Have a wonderful day!

P.S.  Have you seen the Christmas packs available at The Twinery?  There are several different ones available!  Stop on over to pick up yours!! You won't be sorry!!  Here's my favorite:



Supplies
Twine:  The Twinery
Stamps:  Stamps of Life Joy2Christmas

Other Supplies
Ho Ho Ho Card
Cardstock:  PTI Pure Poppy, Black & White & Rustic White
Ink: PTI Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy & Spring Moss & True Black
Other: Fiskers Border Punch

Joy Card
Cardstock: PTI Rustic White, Aqua Mist & Ripe Avocado, DCWV Glitter White
Ink: PTI Aqua Mist & Dark Chocolate, Palette Haystack

Merry Christmas Card
Cardstock: PTI Scarlet Jewel
Ink:  Sweet Blush, True Black & Snow White PTI, Silver VersaMagic
Other: Glitter